Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, characterized by its glossy dark green leaves; upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habit; freely flowering habit; and large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Gabriel.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Plaquemine, La. The objective of the breeding program isto create new large-flowered Hibiscus cultivars with unique anddesirable flower colors.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the Inventor inPlaquemine, La., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selectionof Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The cultivar Gabriel was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Plaquemine, La.

Compared to plants of the topaz-flowered female parent, the cultivarTopaz Glory, plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardly spreading andmore freely branching.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Plaquemine, La., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Gabriel has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Gabriel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Gabriel’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Glossy dark green leaves.

2. Upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habit that isappropriate for container production.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Gabriel’ that was about 12 months old.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Gabriel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Plaquemine La., with one plant per 12.5-cm container, duringthe summer under outdoor conditions which closely approximate commercialproduction. Plants used for the description were about 9 months old. Inthe description, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Gabriel.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, notpatented.

Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 40 days at temperatures of 22° C.Winter: About 50 days at temperatures of 22° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 60 days at temperatures of 22° C.Winter: About 70 days at temperatures of 22° C.

Root description.—Fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen; upright and outwardlyspreading plant habit.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three or four lateralbranches develop after removal of terminal apex.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 38 cm.

Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 48 cm.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.Texture: Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color: Immature:Green, close to 147A to 147B, overlain with anthocyanin, close to 200Ato 200C. Mature: Gray, close to 197A.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.

Length.—About 9.6 cm.

Width.—About 9.3 cm.

Shape.—Broadly ovate.

Apex.—Acute to rounded or cuspidate.

Base.—Obtuse.

Margin.—Crenate.

Texture.—Upper surface, glabrous; lower surface, rough and slightlypubescent; rugose.

Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; glossy. Youngfoliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; dull. Mature foliage, uppersurface: Much darker than 147A; glossy. Mature foliage, lower surface:Close to 147B; dull.

Petiole.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Very finepubescence on upper surface; lower surface, glabrous. Color: Darkgreenish brown; close to 200A with faint undertones of 147A.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.—Spring through fall or during periods of warmweather.

Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf axils. Veryfreely flowering with usually about two or three developing flower budsand one or two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers face upright oroutward.

Flower appearance.—Large, rounded single flowers. Flowers are open forabout one or two days before closing. Flowers persistent.

Flower diameter.—About 18.7 cm.

Flower depth.—About 9.6 cm.

Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: About three tofive days depending on temperatures. Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter:About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close or slightly darker than 147A.

Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny, rugose. Arrangement: Corolla consistsof five overlapping petals. Shape: Roughly spatulate; asymmetrical.Apex: Mostly rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; undulate andruffled. Length: About 9.4 cm. Width: About 10.3 cm. Color: Uppersurface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 9B fading to 11A to 11B, overlain withred, 42A, fading to orange, 28A; center, pink, 62B to 62C, fading to 62Cto 62D, overlain with dark purple, 79A; veins in center, pink, 62B to62C to 62D, fading to white, 155D; base, dark red, 53A to 59A, andshiny. Lower surface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 7A, fading to 9C; center,pink, 62B to 62D, gradually becoming white, 155D, at base.

Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx. Shape:Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 1.2cm. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Rough, pubescent.Color: Upper surface: Close to 146B. Lower surface: Close to 146A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle: Uprightand bent below flower about 120° from vertical. Strength: Strong,flexible. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146A with occasional anthocyanin,close to 200C, towards base.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about 92.Anther shape: Crescent. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color:10A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium: Pistilnumber: One. Pistil length: About 8.5 cm. Style length: About 5.7 cm.Style diameter, at base: About 1 cm. Style color: Base, 53A;mid-section, close to 52A; apex, 52C. Stigma number: Five. Stigma shape:Rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 44A.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed tobe resistant to pathogens common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, asillustrated and described.